‘Crimson Peak’ Trailer: Guillermo del Toro’s Gothic Ghost Story

Crimson Peak is one of the collective Screen Rant staff’s Most Anticipated Releases of 2015 – and the newly-released trailer (watch it above) suggests that our anticipation will not be in vain, either. The film takes place in the 19th century and stars Mia Wasikowska as Edith Cushing, an aspiring author who – in the aftermath of a personal tragedy – ends up marrying a mysterious, but wealthy and charming fellow by the name of Sir Thomas Sharpe (Tom Hiddleston). Edith then accompanies Thomas to go and live in his family’s grandiose mansion in Cumbria… but soon realizes that not all is right in her new home, nor with her husband.

Of course, the real star of Crimson Peak is perhaps that of Sharpe’s decadent estate – a place that (according to the official Crimson Peak synopsis) “breathes, bleeds… and remembers” – as was envisioned by the film’s writer and director, Guillermo del Toro.

Crimson Peak has been described by del Toro as his big love letter to the classic set piece-heavy haunted house genre (The Haunting (1963), The Shining), as well as his salute to the Gothic Romance novel pioneers such as Emily Bronte and Ann Radcliffe. Everything from the production design by Thomas E. Sanders (Braveheart, Red Riding Hood) to the costumes designed by Kate Hawley (The Hobbit trilogy) does, in fact, come off as something from a Gothic romance/horror period drama… but on steroids (in a good way).

There’s also very much a macabre fairy tale vibe to the trailer footage, suggesting that del Toro will, in fact, make good on his promise that Crimson Peak will most resemble his past Spanish-language efforts (dark adult parables Cronos, The Devil’s Backbone, and Pan’s Labyrinth) – something that the R Rating also suggests. We’re also fans of del Toro’s crowd-pleasing geek movies like Hellboy and Pacific Rim, but Crimson Peak is a welcome move that brings del Toro back more to his storytelling roots in literary-minded supernatural horror.

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Rounding out the main cast of Crimson Peak are Jessica Chastain as Lady Lucille Sharpe, Thomas’ duplicitous sister, as well as Charlie Hunnam as Dr. Alan McMichael, Edith’s longtime friend and childhood love. The script was penned by del Toro and Matthew Robbins (Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark), while the supporting cast includes familiar del Toro collaborators Doug Jones and Burn Gorman.